29.03.2024

Prevention of tetanus in wounds in children: how is it?

If the parents treat the child to the doctor about the cuts and wounds on the body or the face, limbs, in addition to the necessary treatment of wounds and holding dressings, sutures, doctors also find out when the child was vaccinated against tetanus and carried him immunized.

If the wounds of the animals (even Pets), then it is also shown vaccination against rabies. About vaccinations against tetanus parents often ask many questions, they are unsure if they are necessary for the child?

This term refers to acute illness caused by a specific species of pathogens – Clostridium, living everywhere in the environment. The infection has a systemic effect on the body due to the special production of exotoxin, leading to reactions of the nervous system spastic and convulsive muscle contractions.

What is tetanus?

This leads to excruciatingly painful spasms of the body, the lesions of the nervous system, convulsions and death of the patient. Tetanus the spores of the pathogen, if they are favorable to the environment where there is no oxygen and heat, lots of power, for example, in wounds of the body, can actively grow into adult vegetative forms that produce a lot of toxin.

Dangerous in terms of tetanus can be considered as any wounds inflicted by infected objects, rusty nails, pieces of iron, cuts, which hit land or dirty water.

Wound is formed, which can get sticks tetanus, and multiply there, especially at the closing of the wound edges and the absence of oxygen (anaerobic environment). If the child is not vaccinated or there are no precise data on whether there was a vaccination, when after certain time it is necessary to prevent tetanus.

Who needs prevention?

Emergency prophylaxis of tetanus involves an appeal to the doctor in the presence of infected, contaminated wounds that require treatment, irrigation, suturing, etc. Along with all these activities, the patient (or his parents) figure out how long ago we had tetanus vaccination (TDAP vaccine) to determine the need for additional injections. Such emergency prevention of tetanus, given its long incubation period, should be carried out as early as possible, and up to 20 days from the moment a potential intrusion.

Administration of drugs for prophylaxis of tetanus is indicated in:

  • Animal bites
  • Cuts and abrasions, contamination of land
  • Frostbite and burns
  • Any contaminated wounds requiring stitches or any medical interventions.
Means for the prevention of tetanus

To prevent tetanus infection are used:

  • Undiscovery toxoid (as), he is injecting deep under the shoulder blade
  • Tetanus immunoglobulin human (IPCC), administered intramuscularly in the buttocks
  • Tetanus serum thoroughly purified (PSS). If there is no previous preparation, it is administered subcutaneously. Before the introduction of compulsory intradermal test to rule out possible allergic reactions. If the child has swelling at the injection site more than 1 sm and redness, his introduction of the PSS is strictly prohibited – there is a risk of anaphylactic shock.
The planned protection of children against tetanus

From an early age in children with routine vaccinations create immune defenses of the body against tetanus. If the child is vaccinated with a full course of DPT vaccine or ADF(m), and then had all the time of revaccination, turning to the emergency room over injuries and damage, he is not shown any further preparations against tetanus. If the vaccination was done for a long time, some of them not, or have other circumstances, you need to know the tactics of preventive measures.

Extra protection from tetanus

Turning to the emergency room, you must ask the parent to check for data card DTP immunization in a child or adolescent.

Depending on this tactic is different:

  • If children vaccinated according to the rules, they made a complete course of vaccination in the first year of life, and revaccination in the second and subsequent revaccinate, no additional injections they are not shown.
  • If children and adolescents are vaccinated according to schedule, but not past the age of revaccination, they are shown regardless of the limitations of the vaccination injection, 0.5 ml antitabaco toxoid (as).
  • If it is the children or teenagers that have only two vaccinations at least 5 years ago, they are injected 0.5 ml antitabaco toxoid. If it has been over 5 years since the last vaccination, administered 1 ml of the AU, as well as the introduction of antitabaco intramuscular human immunoglobulin (IPSC) at a dose of 250 IU. If not, only after a preliminary skin test is introduced 3000МЕ antitabaco serum (PSS).
  • if conducted only one routine vaccination less than 2 years ago, injected with 0.5 ml of as if it has been more than 2 years – introduced 1 ml of the AU, as well as the introduction of antitabaco intramuscular human immunoglobulin (IPSC) at a dose of 250 IU. If not, only after a preliminary skin test is introduced 3000МЕ antitabaco serum (PSS).
  • unvaccinated children under 5 months shows the introduction of antitabaco intramuscular human immunoglobulin (IPSC) at a dose of 250 IU. If not, only after a preliminary skin test is introduced 3000МЕ antitabaco serum (PSS).
  • unvaccinated children after 5 months injected 0.5 ml of the AU, as well as the introduction of antitabaco intramuscular human immunoglobulin (IPSC) at a dose of 250 IU. If not, only after a preliminary skin test is introduced 3000МЕ antitabaco serum (PSS).

In some cases, instead of as it is possible to introduce ADS-m, if you need more and prevention of diphtheria. When the localization of the wound is preferable to cut away as-foxina the damaged area, alkalima it by the edges.

If the wound is infected, contaminated

In the practice of the doctors is also an important distinction between wounds on infected and uninfected, as it depends on and processing features, and changes in the vaccination against tetanus.

So, for non-infected wounds include lesions obtained less than 6 hours ago, linear narrow with smooth edges, with a depth of less than 10 mm, caused by sharp objects and without a variety of foreign objects in the wound (sliver, soil, glass).

To infected wounds classifies lesions received more than 6 hours ago, in the form of stab wounds, bite wounds, fractures and bruises. The depth of the wound more than 1 cm, burns, frostbite, puncture injuries, animal bites. The wound has dirt and other foreign objects. Also infected wounds include umbilical wound child at home childbirth, wounds of the intestines, hollow organs, necrosis and abscesses, bites of any animal.

Schema changes for the prevention of tetanus in case of infected wounds

There are some nuances in the prevention of tetanus in case of infected wounds.

  • If children vaccinated according to the rules, they made a complete course of vaccination in the first year of life, and revaccination in the second and subsequent revaccinate if the last vaccination more than 5 years old, they are administered 0.5 ml of the AU.
  • if conducted only one routine vaccination less than 2 years ago, injected with 0.5 ml of the AU, as well as 250 IU of the drug IPSCS.
  • if there is no data on vaccination, for children from 5 months injected 0.5 ml of the AU, as well as the introduction of antitabaco intramuscular human immunoglobulin (IPSC) at a dose of 250 IU. If not, only after a preliminary skin test is introduced 3000МЕ antitabaco serum (PSS).

If according blood levels of protective antibodies to tetanus revealed its presence in the amount of 0.1 IU/ml, vaccination is also not shown.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *